Safe LGBTQ+ travel: why choosing the right destination matters as much as the journey
Travel should mean discovering new places, switching off and coming home with stories worth remembering. Yet for many LGBTQ+ people, choosing a destination still means checking laws, social acceptance and risks that other travellers rarely have to consider.
Can I show affection to my partner naturally? Are there any laws that could affect me? Is it safe to use dating apps? Are there areas that authorities advise travellers to avoid? These are questions that should never shape a holiday, but they still do.
That is why, when we talk about safe LGBTQ+ travel, choosing where we go can be just as important as deciding what we want to see when we get there.
Being LGBTQ+ still does not mean the same thing everywhere in the world
From Spain, it can be easy to forget that many of the rights and freedoms we take for granted are not universal. According to the update published by ILGA World in June 2026, 65 United Nations member states criminalise consensual same-sex sexual acts.
One distinction is worth making. When people talk about “countries where being gay is illegal”, the law does not always criminalise an identity as such. In many cases, it criminalises same-sex relations, certain public displays of affection or behaviour covered by vague concepts such as “indecency”, “public morality” or “debauchery”.
For travellers, the legal terminology may change; the need to understand a destination before arriving does not.
The most severe criminal laws affecting LGBTQ+ people
The following ranking offers a quick way to understand the severity of some legal frameworks. It is ordered by the maximum penalty provided for consensual same-sex relations; on its own, it does not measure how often the law is enforced or the overall safety of a destination.
| Level | Maximum penalty | Countries or jurisdictions |
|---|---|---|
| 01 | Death penalty Imposed or legally possible | Afghanistan, Brunei, Iran, Mauritania, Nigeria —in northern jurisdictions—, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, the United Arab Emirates, Uganda and Yemen. |
| 02 | Life imprisonment As the maximum sentence | Bangladesh, Guyana, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Tanzania, The Gambia and Zambia. |
| 03 | 10 to 20 years Imprisonment and, in some cases, other penalties | Malaysia, Niger, Kenya, Malawi, South Sudan, Kiribati, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Myanmar, Palestine, Sri Lanka, Senegal, Grenada, Jamaica, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Tonga. |
How to read this table: it shows the highest penalty levels reported by Human Dignity Trust in September 2026. It does not include every territory that criminalises same-sex relations and is not a substitute for official travel advice. ILGA World counts UN member states, while Human Dignity Trust counts jurisdictions, so their global totals may differ.
A popular tourist destination is not always a safe destination for everyone
A country can welcome millions of visitors, have international hotels and be home to some of the most photographed places in the world. At the same time, it may maintain laws or a social context that is particularly restrictive for LGBTQ+ people.
A destination's popularity with tourists does not automatically change its laws. Nor does staying at a major resort guarantee that behaviour we consider completely natural inside the hotel will be viewed in the same way once we leave it.
What to check before booking
- Legislation: relationships, gender identity, expression and public displays of affection.
- Enforcement in practice: arrests, checks, complaints and policing practices.
- Social acceptance: differences between tourist areas, cities and rural areas.
- Digital environment: risks linked to social media and dating apps.
- General safety: political situation, conflicts and areas subject to travel warnings.
- Available support: accommodation, suppliers, insurance and assistance at the destination.
Three tourist destinations and three realities worth understanding
| Destination | Relevant legal framework | What travellers should know |
|---|---|---|
| Tunisia | Article 230 criminalises same-sex relations with sentences of up to three years in prison. | The tourism industry operates normally, but the law remains in force and continues to be applied. Travellers should exercise caution and understand the local context. |
| Maldives | Same-sex relations are criminalised; the Penal Code provides for sentences of up to eight years. | Resorts are often more tolerant, but national law still applies outside them. |
| Egypt | There is no offence specifically called “homosexuality”, but laws relating to debauchery, indecency and scandal are used. | There is a record of arrests and convictions, including cases involving social media and apps. Regional security should also be reviewed. |
Tunisia: a nearby destination with a very different legal reality
Mediterranean beaches, resorts, desert landscapes, archaeological sites and destinations such as Tunis, Hammamet, Sousse and Djerba have made the country a familiar choice for European tourism. Its proximity and tourism infrastructure can make it easy to forget that its legal reality for LGBTQ+ people is very different from Spain's.
Article 230 of the Tunisian Penal Code continues to criminalise consensual same-sex sexual relations with sentences of up to three years in prison. The updated Human Dignity Trust profile on Tunisia also records recent evidence of arrests and enforcement of this provision.
This does not mean that every LGBTQ+ person who visits Tunisia will experience an incident. It means travellers should understand this reality before travelling and make their decision with all the available information. The official travel advice for Tunisia should be checked again before departure.
A country being a familiar holiday destination does not mean every visitor enjoys the same rights they have at home.
Maldives: when paradise changes once you leave the resort
White sand, crystal-clear water and villas built over the ocean have made the Maldives one of the most desirable destinations on the planet. Behind that postcard image, however, lies another reality.
Consensual same-sex sexual relations are criminalised. Human Dignity Trust states that the Penal Code provides for sentences of up to eight years in prison and that corporal punishment may also be imposed under Islamic law. Spain's Ministry of Foreign Affairs also warns that homosexuality is illegal in the country.
Large tourist resorts often maintain considerably more liberal policies than those found outside them. Many LGBTQ+ travellers enjoy their holidays there without problems, but national law does not disappear when they leave the resort.
The key question: is feeling free inside a resort enough if the rules change once we step outside it? There is no universal answer. What matters is understanding the situation before booking.
Egypt: a reality more complex than a simple “yes” or “no”
Few countries can compete with Egypt when it comes to historic heritage. The Pyramids of Giza, Luxor, Karnak, Abu Simbel, the Valley of the Kings and the Nile are part of the imagination of millions of travellers.
Homosexuality is not explicitly criminalised under an offence bearing that name. That does not mean there are no legal risks. The updated Human Dignity Trust profile on Egypt explains that provisions relating to “debauchery”, “indecency” and “scandalous acts” have been used against LGBTQ+ people, particularly men, with penalties that can reach three years in prison and a fine.
There is also a record of entrapment and arrests involving dating apps and social media. Added to this is the geopolitical context of the Middle East. Egypt should not be described as a whole as a country at war, but official travel advice for Egypt advises against travel to certain areas and should be reviewed in case the regional situation changes.
The question is not only “can I travel there?”, but “do I understand the legal, social and security context well enough to decide whether this destination is right for me?”.
Does this mean LGBTQ+ people should avoid these destinations?
Not necessarily. Every traveller has the right to decide where they want to spend their holiday and what level of risk they are willing to accept. LGBTQ+ people have travelled through Tunisia, the Maldives, Egypt and other countries with restrictive laws and have had extraordinary experiences.
It would also be unfair to reduce entire societies solely to the decisions of their governments. In many of these places, LGBTQ+ communities live, build support networks and fight for their rights under circumstances considerably more difficult than our own.
The point is different: travelling with information allows us to decide freely. Knowing the law does not automatically mean giving up on a destination; it allows us to understand where we are going and what precautions it may require.
The responsibility of organising travel for LGBTQ+ people
It is one thing for an individual to decide where they want to spend their holiday. It is another to design and market an experience specifically for the LGBTQ+ community.
A trip like this is not simply about putting gay, lesbian, bisexual, trans or queer people on the same plane or in the same hotel. The experience is about what creates community: getting to know one another, socialising, sharing activities, going out together, making new friends and enjoying ourselves without our sexual orientation or identity constantly becoming something we have to worry about.
That is why choosing a destination for an LGBTQ+ trip means looking beyond its monuments, beaches or accommodation prices. We also have to ask: how is our traveller going to feel there?
How we approach LGBTQ+ travel
When we design an Apolo experience, we do not look only at flights, accommodation, activities or places to visit. We also consider the destination's legal, social and cultural context, official travel advice, the areas included in the itinerary and any circumstances that may specifically affect the LGBTQ+ community.
Not because there is such a thing as a completely risk-free destination —there is not— or because we want to decide where someone else should travel. Every traveller is free to choose. Our responsibility as organisers is different: to select destinations where we can deliver the experience we want to offer and provide enough information for people to make informed decisions.
Travelling safely does not mean promising that nothing will ever happen. It means assessing, researching, preventing and knowing how to act if circumstances change.
Being able to be yourself should be part of the holiday too
For a long time, many LGBTQ+ people learned to travel by first checking where they could be themselves: when they could hold hands, how they should present themselves, what they could post on social media or whether they needed to hide, for a few days, something that is part of who they are.
In many places, we have made enormous progress. In others, there is still a very long way to go. The fact that in 2026 there are still 65 United Nations member states that criminalise consensual same-sex sexual acts shows that choosing a destination still matters.
Travel means stepping outside our comfort zone, discovering other cultures and experiencing different realities. But there is a difference between leaving our comfort zone and unnecessarily giving up our freedom.
At Apolo, we want to keep discovering extraordinary cities, cultures and places. We want to travel, connect and see the world while always keeping in mind the people who trust us to accompany them.
Because travelling informed is also travelling with freedom.
Frequently asked questions about safe LGBTQ+ travel
Is it safe to travel as a gay person to any country?
Not every destination has the same legal and social conditions. Before travelling, it is advisable to check the law, official travel advice, social acceptance and any specific warnings for LGBTQ+ people.
How many countries criminalise same-sex relations?
According to the update published by ILGA World in June 2026, 65 United Nations member states criminalise consensual same-sex sexual acts.
Is Tunisia safe for LGBTQ+ travellers?
Tunisia has a well-established tourism industry, but consensual same-sex sexual relations remain punishable by up to three years in prison. It is important to understand the law, review official travel advice and assess the context before deciding.
Is it illegal to be gay in Egypt?
There is no offence specifically called “homosexuality”, but other legal provisions relating to debauchery, indecency and scandal have been used to arrest and convict LGBTQ+ people. The absence of an explicit ban should therefore not be interpreted as the absence of risk.
Where can I find reliable information before travelling?
For travellers from Spain, check the Travel Advice issued by Spain's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. For information on the legal situation affecting LGBTQ+ people, use specialist sources such as ILGA World and Human Dignity Trust.